Southwest USA & The West Coast (California, Arizona etc) - General Thread

DesertWind

vanilla8 wrote: »

I have booked the Bryce Canyon Lodge which is in the park, due to the short time we can be there atleast that way we are in the best location -$195 including taxes

Good choice on limited time. It is great to stay in the actual parks.

DesertWind

northwest1965 wrote: »

We have to apply on June 1 for our trip in September. Just watched the lottery that they do daily. It's like bingo!:rotfl:

Getting really excited, a couple of friends I know have been to Bryce (she said hike down ) the view up is gorgeous. Lake Powell is beautiful and don't even get her started on MV.

We hiked down Bryce a couple of years ago and yes it is beautiful. Not too strenuous from what I remember as well. I am sure you will have a great time and I don't blame you for being excited. I just love that whole area.

joebob

Disney_Pluto wrote: »

It's all booked so these are the hotels we are staying at. We have a hire car from the end of SF until beginning of Vegas.

I'm a big disney fan and I've been to California before so know its not huge. My fiance hasn't been to the one in California and its the only one he hasn't been too so just want to include it. We will only spend one day there.

Are there any good trips to Alcatraz to book before hand? Also any day trips to Grand Canyon? Or maybe we can keep the car an extra day and drive ourselves?

Thanks so far.

We have similar holiday booked for september, who have you booked car rental with and how much ? we leave san fran and finish in vegas too, we going coastal road carmel, san luis osbispo,santa barbara la san diego,palm springs just need to find some accomadation any ideas

TheBetterHalf

Hi again MSE,
Just posting to say thanks for the advice.
Had an absolutely brilliant time driving around CA, so glad we went through death valley. Stunning.
It ws so easy driving around I think we will defo return to hit yosemite and other areas of interest. Not sure what advice I can give.
Used car hire 3000 who got us with dollar rentals. Paid for the tank of gas before and it gave us a much better selection of car I think.

Tropicana was newly renovated and cheap but more a hotel stay than a vegas casino feel. I e mailed them direct to see what deals they had cos there was a groupon deal at the time but I could not purchase with a foriegn address. They knocked 30% off and waived resort fee, but it was december.

My wife and I used the MSE tip and drove up the strip to the peppermills breakfast place by the ticket discount counter at circuscircus. We shared one breakfast and only just finished it! Massive, disgraceful, lovely.

Moro rock in sequioa national park is incredible.

Bout it.

Thanks again

jackieblack

TheBetterHalf wrote: »

It ws so easy driving around I think we will defo return to hit yosemite and other areas of interest.

Yes, that's the only problem.... it becomes addictive
Glad you had a good time.
Yosemite is stunning (the waterfalls are at their best in the spring)

northwest1965

TheBetterHalf wrote: »

Hi again MSE,
Had an absolutely brilliant time driving around CA, so glad we went through death valley. Stunning.
It ws so easy driving around I think we will defo return to hit yosemite and other areas of interest. Not sure what advice I can give.
Used car hire 3000 who got us with dollar rentals. Paid for the tank of gas before and it gave us a much better selection of car I think.

Moro rock in sequioa national park is incredible.

Glad you went through Death Valley, it is one beautiful place. Going back this year to explore more.!

northwest1965

blindman wrote: »

A friend of mine is waiting to see if he's in for May-1st Feb and he'll know. :cool:

Have they heard?

nvh

Many apologies - I'd forgotten there was a specific west coast thread

Anyways, i've posted this elsewhere, but it's probably more relevant here - hopefully its of use to someone

nvh wrote: »

Ah, so this isn't strictly Vegas, but this is a great deal for anyone considering a bit of a west coast tour (or just wanting to go to San Fran!) so worth a post

London --> San Francisco (Delta / KLM) from £462 in April & September (1 stop)

More info here:
http://www.holidaypirates.com/uk-ireland/flights-san-francisco-london-462-trip-incl-taxes

A quick check of a Multi Centre (flying into SFO on 5th September, and out of LAS on 17th September), gives a price of £543, with 1 stop outbound and 2 on the return which doesn't seem too bad in the current climate

blindman

northwest1965 wrote: »

Have they heard?

Yes

It was a NO:(

Crispy_Ambulance

Hi everyone

We are thinking about a California trip next year - 2 adults and 2 kids (age 11 and 14). We want to see Grand Canyon, Death Valley, San Diego and San Francisco, along with Yosemite if we can. Not bothered about LA.

We're pretty bound to school holidays - we'll happily take the kids out for a few days but there are SATS etc to take into account, so I guess we're looking at Easter or summer, unless May is an option. Probably going for 2 weeks.

Any ideas about when would be the best (and most economical) time of year to go? Would flying into Las Vegas be the best starting point? Happy to book flights early if we're going to get the best price but I don't know when "early" is.

Any advice much appreciated!